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Scotland snow: Work to restore power in Arran and Kintyre continues Scotland snow: 3,300 without power in Arran and Kintyre
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of people have spent a fourth night without power as engineers work "flat out" to restore supplies cut as a result of Friday's storm. Thousands of people in the west of Scotland have spent a fourth night without electricity after Friday's winter storm brought down power lines.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said 3,300 customers in Kintyre, Argyll, and on the Isle of Arran remained cut off overnight. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said 3,300 customers in Kintyre, Argyll, and on the Isle of Arran remained cut off.
Supplies were cut after two pylons toppled under sheets of ice and snow. The utility firm said engineers were working flat out to repair damage to pylons and power lines which toppled under sheets of snow and ice.
All homes in Dumfries and Galloway affected by the severe weather were reconnected on Monday evening. Homes affected in Dumfries and Galloway were reconnected on Monday evening.
SSE said the damage to the electricity network infrastructure in Kintyre had been "among the worst seen for 30 years".
The power company said it had never experienced two pylons collapsing at one time. The last time a storm brought down one of its pylons was in 1987.
A spokeswoman added: "Transmission overhead lines staff have started working to make towers safe and carry out temporary repairs after finally gaining access to the location."
All schools in Arran will remain closed for the rest of the week. North Ayrshire Council said pupils involved in exams would get support on their return from the Easter break.
Dumfries and Galloway Council said all of its schools are now open while Argyll and Bute Council have said a few of its schools were unlikely to open due to having no electricity.
Snow and gales blasted the west coast on Friday, plunging about 20,000 properties into darkness.Snow and gales blasted the west coast on Friday, plunging about 20,000 properties into darkness.
Arran suffered a complete blackout and mainland areas in Kintyre and Dumfries and Galloway were also badly affected. Power companies attempting to restore supplies have been co-ordinating with local authorities and emergency services to clear snow-closed roads and transfer engineers into remote areas.
Sandy MacPherson has lived in Campbeltown, Kintyre, all his life and told BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme these were the worst conditions he had experienced. SSE said it had drafted in more than 400 engineering staff to Kintyre and Arran and had six helicopters operating across the affected areas.
The utility firm said the damage to the electricity network infrastructure in Kintyre and Arran had been "among the worst seen for 30 years".
A total of eight pylons have been damaged - three of them badly - in the Crossaig area of Argyll alone.
The power company said the last time a storm brought down one of its pylons was in 1987.
A spokeswoman added: "Transmission overhead lines staff have started working to make towers safe and carry out temporary repairs after finally gaining access to the location."
'Really struggling'
Sandy MacPherson has lived in Campbeltown, Kintyre, all his life and told BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme these were the worst conditions he had experienced.
"My wife and I have had nothing for four days," he said. "We've had no heating, lighting or cooking facilities.""My wife and I have had nothing for four days," he said. "We've had no heating, lighting or cooking facilities."
"Had it not been for good neighbours and friends we would be really struggling.""Had it not been for good neighbours and friends we would be really struggling."
He added: "We were warned on Monday/Tuesday about the extreme weather that was coming in and, similar to the M8 escapade two years ago, nothing was put in place to be ready for it.He added: "We were warned on Monday/Tuesday about the extreme weather that was coming in and, similar to the M8 escapade two years ago, nothing was put in place to be ready for it.
"We are now just catching up and chasing our tail.""We are now just catching up and chasing our tail."
On Monday evening ScottishPower said that all homes in Dumfries and Galloway had now been reconnected to a main line electricity supply. The Isle of Arran, off the coast of North Ayrshire, suffered a complete blackout following Friday's storm.
Six helicopters SSE's Mark Rough said 150 staff had been deployed to the area and had managed to restore supplies to more than 2,500 customers by Tuesday morning.
It said 300 engineers had been on the ground in Wigtownshire and Barrhill working to restore supplies. Mr Rough said that when "additional generation" arrived it would be connected to the grid south of Whiting Bay and restore power to customers as far as Blackwaterfoot.
SSE has drafted in more 400 engineering staff to Kintyre and Arran and has six helicopters operating in the area. He said the electricity infrastructure had suffered "extensive damage" towards Machrie substation and north towards Lochranza.
Mr Rough added that SSE hoped to have restored supplies to "a few hundred" more customers by Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, all schools in Arran will remain closed for the rest of the week.
School support
North Ayrshire Council said pupils involved in exams would get support on their return from the Easter break.
Argyll and Bute Council said a few of its schools were closed due to having no electricity.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) has organised eight mobile hot food outlets in Argyll and Arran, while 18 large generators and 50 smaller sets have been installed in the areas.Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) has organised eight mobile hot food outlets in Argyll and Arran, while 18 large generators and 50 smaller sets have been installed in the areas.
Speaking after a visit to Arran on Monday, Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said emergency engineers and road clearing crews had been working "flat out" to help individuals and communities.Speaking after a visit to Arran on Monday, Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said emergency engineers and road clearing crews had been working "flat out" to help individuals and communities.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to visit the Kintyre Peninsula later. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to visit the Kintyre Peninsula.
The Met Office issued a fresh yellow warning covering eastern Scotland, northeast England and eastern parts of Northern Ireland. Mainland areas of Dumfries and Galloway were also badly affected by the severe weather.
Forecasters said snow showers and icy patches would continue to make driving hazardous on Monday night, especially over high ground. On Monday evening ScottishPower said that all homes across the area had been reconnected to a main line electricity supply.
The strong wind will be an added problem as it continues to blow the lying snow. It said 300 engineers had been on the ground in Wigtownshire and Barrhill working to restore supplies.
The warning is valid from 20:00 on Monday until 09:00 on Tuesday. Dumfries and Galloway Council said all of its schools were now open.
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